Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Hand hygiene01:23

Hand hygiene

4.9K
Asepsis is the practice of preventing or breaking the chain of infection. The nurse employs aseptic techniques to prevent the spread of microorganisms and reduce the risk of diseases. Hand hygiene is the cornerstone of aseptic techniques and is classified into medical and surgical asepsis. Medical asepsis includes hand hygiene and the use of gloves. Surgical asepsis, or the sterile technique, refers to practices that render and keep objects and areas free of microorganisms.
Hand washing...
4.9K
Handwashing III: During the Procedure and Post-Procedure Steps01:15

Handwashing III: During the Procedure and Post-Procedure Steps

1.9K
To wash hands properly, follow these steps:
1.9K
Handwashing I: Introduction and Types of Equipment01:18

Handwashing I: Introduction and Types of Equipment

4.6K
Handwashing is hand hygiene with plain or antimicrobial soap and water to physically remove dirt, organic material, and microorganisms. However, it may not kill all microorganisms. The handwashing procedure requires a hand wash basin, liquid soap, paper towels, a domestic waste bin, and disposable nail cleaner as optional equipment.
Hand wash basins in clinical areas should have faucets that can be turned on and off without using the hands; that is, they should be non-touch or lever-operated....
4.6K
Handwashing II: Pre-procedure and Initial Procedure Steps01:19

Handwashing II: Pre-procedure and Initial Procedure Steps

1.2K
The pre-procedure steps of handwashing include removing jewelry and rolling up sleeves. However, many organizations allow staff to wear wedding rings.
The hand washing procedure itself includes the following steps. First, cover cuts, if any, on hands with a waterproof dressing. Cuts and abrasions can become contaminated with bacteria hindering the ability to clean the area thoroughly. In addition, repeated hand washing can worsen an injury.  The nails must be short and clean, without nail...
1.2K
Standard Precaution01:26

Standard Precaution

2.4K
Standard precautions are the minimum infection control safeguards used while caring for all patients, irrespective of their disease condition. They help prevent the spread of common infectious microorganisms to healthcare workers, patients, and visitors in all healthcare settings.
Hand hygiene is the most crucial means to prevent the transmission of disease. Employers are legally required to provide their workers with personal protective equipment (PPE) to minimize exposure or contact with...
2.4K
PPE Use in Healthcare Settings II: Doffing01:10

PPE Use in Healthcare Settings II: Doffing

1.3K
The sequence of removing or doffing PPE starts with the gloves, as they are the most contaminated. Next is removal of the face shield or goggles, as they would interfere with removing other PPE. Then remove the gown, followed by the mask or respirator. Perform hand hygiene between steps if hands become contaminated and immediately after removing all PPE. Generally, the outside front and sleeves of the isolation gown, the goggles or the mask, the respirator, and the face shield are contaminated.
1.3K

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

What constitutes an adequate sample size for monitoring hand hygiene adherence?

American journal of infection control·2025
Same author

Response to the comment on the article "No detrimental effect on the hand microbiome of health care staff by frequent alcohol-based antisepsis".

American journal of infection control·2025
Same author

No detrimental effect on the hand microbiome of health care staff by frequent alcohol-based antisepsis.

American journal of infection control·2024
Same author

Hand and environmental hygiene: respective roles for MRSA, multi-resistant gram negatives, Clostridioides difficile, and Candida spp.

Antimicrobial resistance and infection control·2024
Same author

Rinse, gel, and foam - is there any evidence for a difference in their effectiveness in preventing infections?

Antimicrobial resistance and infection control·2024
Same author

Disinfection, sterilization and antisepsis: An overview.

American journal of infection control·2023

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Oct 25, 2025

A Method to Test the Efficacy of Handwashing for the Removal of Emerging Infectious Pathogens
09:02

A Method to Test the Efficacy of Handwashing for the Removal of Emerging Infectious Pathogens

Published on: June 7, 2017

19.4K

Hand Hygiene, an Update.

John M Boyce1

  • 1J.M. Boyce Consulting, LLC, 62 Sonoma Lane, Middletown, CT 06457, USA.

Infectious Disease Clinics of North America
|August 7, 2021
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Health care personnel hand hygiene is crucial for preventing infections, but adherence and technique are often suboptimal. Combining automated monitoring with direct observation may offer the most accurate adherence estimates.

Keywords:
ComplianceCross-transmissionHand hygieneHandwashingHealthcare-associated infectionsInfection preventionMonitoring

More Related Videos

Author Spotlight: Microbial Control and Monitoring Strategies for Cleanroom Environments and Cellular Therapies
09:30

Author Spotlight: Microbial Control and Monitoring Strategies for Cleanroom Environments and Cellular Therapies

Published on: March 17, 2023

3.9K
Determining Viral Disinfection Efficacy of Hot Water Laundering
06:57

Determining Viral Disinfection Efficacy of Hot Water Laundering

Published on: June 21, 2022

2.7K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Oct 25, 2025

A Method to Test the Efficacy of Handwashing for the Removal of Emerging Infectious Pathogens
09:02

A Method to Test the Efficacy of Handwashing for the Removal of Emerging Infectious Pathogens

Published on: June 7, 2017

19.4K
Author Spotlight: Microbial Control and Monitoring Strategies for Cleanroom Environments and Cellular Therapies
09:30

Author Spotlight: Microbial Control and Monitoring Strategies for Cleanroom Environments and Cellular Therapies

Published on: March 17, 2023

3.9K
Determining Viral Disinfection Efficacy of Hot Water Laundering
06:57

Determining Viral Disinfection Efficacy of Hot Water Laundering

Published on: June 21, 2022

2.7K

Area of Science:

  • Infection Control
  • Public Health
  • Healthcare Quality Improvement

Background:

  • Health care-associated infections (HAIs) pose a significant threat, with suboptimal hand hygiene by healthcare personnel being a primary cause.
  • While alcohol-based hand rubs are preferred for effectiveness and tolerance, adherence and technique remain challenges.
  • Accurate measurement of hand hygiene adherence is difficult using traditional direct observation methods.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the effectiveness of alcohol-based hand rubs in improving hand hygiene adherence.
  • To explore methods for obtaining more accurate estimates of hand hygiene adherence rates.
  • To highlight the need for improved hand hygiene technique among healthcare personnel.

Main Methods:

  • Review of current practices and challenges in monitoring hand hygiene adherence.
  • Discussion of the benefits of alcohol-based hand rubs over traditional handwashing.
  • Exploration of combining automated monitoring systems with direct observation for improved accuracy.

Main Results:

  • Alcohol-based hand rubs have shown potential in increasing adherence rates.
  • Direct observation for hand hygiene adherence is challenging to conduct accurately.
  • A combined approach using automated monitoring and direct observation is promising for precise adherence estimation.

Conclusions:

  • Improved hand hygiene technique requires greater focus and attention.
  • Combined automated and direct observation methods offer the most reliable way to estimate adherence.
  • Continued efforts are needed to optimize hand hygiene practices in healthcare settings to reduce HAIs.